BA2b: Self-Evaluation

This project has been rather unfortunate:

I've not really kept up on slides has I have done before this, I haven't been in or been able to do as much work as I wanted to for the group projects and most of the time, my head hurts when I have to think so I have no idea what I'm doing.

Once I am able to get myself together, I think I work rather well. However it is the being able to get myself together thing that's quite an issue. I think overall, I've improved from last year, although I'm not sure how I'm supposed to keep up with the years' growing amounts of work.

Despite the outcomes of my physical contributions for the group project works, I do really enjoy working in collaborations. Although it seems my strengths in these only rely on ideas and following orders or requests...

I'm pretty disappointed but can do nothing more than submit all I can and feel like I should apologise profusely for this project, much like I did so for BA2a.

BA2b: Recap/Update

It has been over 2 months since I've posted an update.
During this time, I've been working on some things for the group project, and also doing a bunch of personal things.

Basically, for a small update on my life, I've (rather stupidly) come off antidepressants abruptly, so I'm hoping that hasn't taken a toll on me for the worse, though honestly I wouldn't be able to tell... There's been loads of things going on but I think I'm okay overall.

I personally have been feeling as though I haven't been pulling my weight in the group project either. I'm basically doing some concepts and graphics/UI, and I feel as though I've done the things needed of me but not more, and that really sucks. I've asked, they said it was fine but still :(

Half the time I don't even know what I'm doing...

These are some initial layouts I had created for examples of what the different menus could look like.

Below are some buttons for pause, resume, settings and the amount of moves left. These were the buttons given to me, and we wanted to go for a simplistic design.

Using the colours and shapes the other members of the group gave me, I then created different designs for roughly the same style.

I've uploaded them all onto Trello and got the feedback that they preferred the monochrome versions of the buttons.

I have uploaded the next two onto Trello, and have asked for feedback or what they think or want but haven't received many replies, due to everyone being busy. I do understand that I could work and do more but I find it very difficult to proceed, and I do work rather slowly...

These are examples of what the buttons would look like, from the template I was given.

This sheet shows more iterations on the buttons available, with black, white and transparent.

I personally prefer #4, as I think it stands out but not too much and I quite like that.

I am not sure what's going to happen to be honest and I do hate the fact that I'm not really knowing what's going on but everyone is busy. I'm just focusing on getting what's needed of me done, and of course submission.

I'm actually very unhappy with how this 13 week project went and I think it's mostly to do with me. I need to work faster and take more initiative.

BA2b: Week 2

I missed the first half of week 1 so I didn't get the names of or meet the rest of my group until the meeting on Thursday. There I was given a briefing from the members of the group about what game they were doing and I found it really interesting and I'm pretty excited to do it. I was given the task of creating some prop concepts and it's going alright; I'm needing to change my art style and grow more confident to fit in with the ideas though.

It is now week 2 and midway through the collaboration with the Fine Art Students, our word is 'cube' and I am now waiting for stages 1 and I guess... 2... to be complete so I can move onto stage 3 and pass it on for 4!
The end result of this collaboration is this rough video so far:

I'm staying on top of things, although still quite ill, I am rather organised.

In our group, we had 3 Games Artists and 3 Fine Artists. The Fine Artists each took 2 squares of this Rubik's cube and created their own art in the colours needed whilst the Games Artists each took the roles of modelling, UVing and texturing. One knew animation so we decided it would be nice to be able to watch it spin and form the completed cube. We also thought it would be cool if we could use this project as a way to showcase the talent we have at the university.

BA2a Self Evaluation

This unit as been a rollercoaster, but mostly due to my personal problems. I have really enjoyed everything I have done and attempted during this unit, from making the unfinished prototype, to the game jam, and the art tests, and although I haven't done a lot or finished basically anything. I feel like I've learnt a lot.
Since October, when all my mental health issues started up again, I have tried very hard, even though it may not have shown, and now I've gotten a lot better so my goal for the next unit may not be what the university wants. I want to be most happy, and then if I am then everything should fall into place.
I've kept my blog relatively up to date, I just need to be happy so I can do my work on time and not hate every little thing I do. I'd be able to get out of bed and attend lectures and sessions and not fall behind again. I'm not sure what made me start falling behind, it was just a UV session.
I hope I've not done too badly, or forgotten anything for submission, as my mind for months has been all over the place. I find it difficult to read or remember or make sense of things, but it will be better.
I have been quite unhappy but I am rather happy with this unit.

Twilight Pirate

It is the morning of the extension deadline, and I don't think I can do it all, my head hurts by looking at anything, any words or pictures and I am worrying and awful every few hours. My aim is to do something for each part of the submission, even if it's awful so that I have something. I feel like I want to give up but I think I can't, everything is unsure right now. I'm having a bit of trouble knowing where to submit things, but at least my essay is done.

Originally I wanted this to be a lot more detailed, but I spent a lot of time on this, even though it may not show. I'd like to think the general idea is there with the design. I think I may not have time to do the full detailed concept.
I want to create the twilight version in its setting, with an eerie lighting and so you can see the details of the old, grumpy face.

End of February Recap

It is rather unfortunate that I have nothing to report to do with what I have accomplished this past month. Most of it has been me trying to get my life in order and having good days, being able to get up and do things. This side of things has been going rather well, my work side of things however, have not. I am slightly, or very sometimes, worried that I will not meet this deadline extension, however I am trying my best, I have my days mapped out.
I would like a good grade for this half of the year, however I just want to get things done for now. I think having these disruptions has given me a slight new insight on how to do work and what I can do and accomplish, so next project should be good.

These are the two pages of my sell sheet. I will review them later on in the week.

End of January Recap: Specialism, Tiles, Life and Other Things

I said in December that I was going to do weekly updates, however that didn't happen and also in this month of January, I've only managed 3, this being my third one. For this reason, a lot is going into this post, and probably not in the order I suggested in the title.

Since my last posts, my life has been a roller-coaster and there have been ups and loads of downs. I keep saying I can do things with new found motivation but fall back into the same patterns and the same routines. However, for the past two days I have been good, I've been into university, woke up and slept at reasonable times and I have felt good about myself and the amount of work I have and can do. So here's to a new chapter; I now genuinely believe in myself.

Unfortunately, I have to start to post off with possibly the most disappointing news. I have had no progress with finishing the rest of the 8-week-long-task of the game prototype and sell sheet. I know I can do it, it's just I've not had the motivation to do so. I also have nothing This doesn't mean that I've done nothing though.

Gamer

Ballerina

I had chosen to focus on Applied Anatomy for the Specialism project and these are the results of my work. I had hoped to do a third piece, however due to certain personal circumstances I have been unable to do so but I hope to go back and paint another one of a manual labour worker should I have the time. I have chosen these 3 different types of 'work' as they typically have different builds, and I wanted to showcase my ability to show and draw those things.

It has occurred to me that I need to practice painting and that I do actually have a style, which I have previously thought otherwise.
Faces and body shapes and proportions are things I need to work on, but overall, I am pretty happy as these are not that bad :)

Following the theme of the specialism projects, I have actually done no significant digital paintings of the NUA Art Test I have chosen. I have ideas, but this particular project was set at the height of the occurrence of particularly bad issues, but I have plans of what I would like to do.
Below the NUA Art Test screen-cap, I have included the Industry Art Test decision I have made. I mean at least I know what I want to do right..?

Now for updates on Chris' sessions and tasks, the things that aren't the door.

I need to eventually post about the Dirty Tiles task Chris set me to get the basics of Substance Painter after I missed a session, however here are the other tiles I have created. One being the Aztec tiles in one of his sessions, and the other two screen-caps are the actual materials we need to submit. I would like to go back and make the second one more damaged, however I like the slight damage look of it more, I know it doesn't show my talent though! I have gone for a mosaic-esque design.

This is just a repeat of a section of a previous blog I have posted.

Essay:

I would like to base my 3000 word essay around something to do with nationalism in competitive gaming. Whether it be the importance of it or what it has to do with the pride people share and who supports who, this can touch on localisations etc.

I have also created some lists and things to help me keep track! Hopefully this will make me not forget things and and be able to pace things and for it not to get too much but I'm happy now!

Concept Art Colour Theory Task

James Zapata's Scout features a monochromatic harmony.
The piece is split noticeably, roughly in the middle, using values on opposite ends of the scale. The blue hue works well with both tones of the piece. The lower half, including the figure with the bird suggests a mysterious mood, although the figure itself may not suggest a dark personality, the environment itself does so.
My interpretation of the piece is that this figure is, if there were side of good and evil, on the good side, receiving a message from, lets say, allies in a war or dispute or something similar.
I have formed this opinion due to the darkened tones mentioned earlier, but also the light vales and saturation used in the upper area of the piece. The mountains have a bright white-blue-grey light shiny through and this hue bares significant difference to those in the lower part of the piece. The figure itself also stands out a lot more due to the lighter areas starting where the figure starts. The clouds part so we can see the mountains and the light shining through.

Specialism and Recap: Week 5

Recap:
The holidays are over, and I've been working on both my projects and my health, and over the actual holiday period of the holiday, things got pretty bad but I'm getting back on track again. So it's okay. Expect multiple non-chronological posts in this week and the next when I mass upload all my process, or how little process I have been making.

Specialism:
This ballerina piece has been regarded as 'finished enough' for now, as I would never have gotten anything else started or done if I just kept working on it. However I am looking to come back and touch it up and make it look better. Right now I am taking the advice of "finished, not perfect."It's good practice to do so.
I need to work on my painting, and being more comfortable creating things with more contrast.

Essay:
I would like to base my 3000 word essay around something to do with nationalism in competitive gaming. Whether it be the importance of it or what it has to do with the pride people share and who supports who, this can touch on localisations etc.

This may not seem much or very specific, but it's a lot more than what I had before the holidays and I can work with this.